Gather Team Attend Pioneer Women Leaders Conference

It was a first for Gather as 3 of our ladies attended the online Women Leaders Conference. Here is a report from from Ruth Kenward.

It was a great day with rich and relevant content for this challenging season.

The opening session, Replenished to Rebuild – was based on Isaiah 43:14-21 – the new thing God is doing: “NOW it springs up; do you not see it?”  It was spot on. We’ve had the rug pulled out from under us, and we need to be refreshed by drinking from HIM, so that we can overflow to others at a time of huge societal need.

The session I attended on communicating via a screen was full of sound practical advice, which we can share with everyone at Gather as so many of us take a turn at preaching.  (I’m a wee bit terrified at the thought of having to watch back video of myself to check my style, but recognise it needs to be done!)

The final session was on resolve and resilience, and we certainly need those things right now.  Ness Wilson introduced us to the idea of a glass cliff (as opposed to glass ceiling), the notion that women often find themselves being recognised as needing to be in leadership during a crisis. The strength of female leadership during the current crisis is certainly evidenced by e.g. Jacinda Adern, Nicola Sturgeon and others.  Ness encouraged us with the parable of the talents, reminding us NOT to bury our gifts!  She said:  “Step up.  Choose growth, which will cause the kingdom to grow.”  And this applies to ALL of us of course.  She also said: “Fear drives us to underestimate ourselves and overestimate the risks. If we cling to our comfort zone we will never do what we’re capable of, and we NEED to replenish so we can rebuild the church, our society and our ravaged communities… We are charged with a God assignment – we need to pick it up, own it and walk in it.”

Inspiring – and confirms that Pioneer is already the rich source of sustenance and support for us that we hoped it would be!

Journeys into Silence – Dave Roberts

Jesus retreats several times in the Gospel accounts to pray alone. This often happened before major decisions or challenges. What can we learn from Jesus actions that will impact our lives today. What journeys into silence could you take. Dave Roberts shares his insights.

Pioneer Network February Update

2021’s first Pioneer Update comes from some of our Core Team and Staff as they share news and updates on the recent Women Leader’s Conference, our upcoming Annual Leader’s Conference, 40 Days of Prayer, Safeguarding and Pioneer RISE!

Judith on ‘Choosing to Rejoice’.

Choose to rejoice. Those were the words on our Lectio365 daily devotional which resonated. CHOOSE to rejoice. I find these long lockdown days I am having to do more choosing to rejoice- don’t know about you.

I’ve been thinking about Hagar recently when she fled into the desert after being mistreated by her mistress Sarah because she had become pregnant by Abraham, at Sarah’s suggestion. Now I can’t compare my experience with Hagar’s, but it does feel a bit desert like as we live our lives without seeing close friends and family, without hugs, without seeing people except on screens, without being able to work in the usual way, without our usual income, without gathering for worship together, without being able to confidently plan any of the above.

Read the whole article here

We need to pray – just to make it through the day

We pray Sundays, Tuesdays – often twice. We have a prayer partner scheme. Soon we will pray almost everyday in the Quiet Garden prayer room. But in the meantime here are other prayer gatherings that we want to encourage you to participate in

Eastbourne Prayer Day
This event runs from 9.00am to 1.00pm. You can be there the whole time or come in for an hour. It will take place on Zoom and includes contributions from over 15 people to help us pray in an informed way for the town. We will send out the link on Friday but ideally you would register to help us understand what the numbers are going to be.

February 4th
We’re taking part in the Pioneer 40 days of Prayer and Feb 4th is our day. We will pray at 4 different times of the day and also send you information for your personal prayers on that day. We’ll give you more information nearer the time.

Deliberate Journeys – When Jesus Calls You To An Adventure

Dave Roberts shares in the second of our new series on Journeys with Jesus. The focus is on John 4:4 and Jesus willingness to go to Samaria with all risk to his reputation that might involve as he travels almost to the door of a competing temple and starts the mission that would go to the nations, through a woman. Discover how this impacts our understanding of mission and witness today.